Suspending device.



e. x. HICKERSON & e. c. HE MENWAY. SUSPENDING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, I914.

1, 147,863. Patented July 2?, 1915.

INVENTORS. 512 1 5X air/{275 c fiqge BY EIFEIIWE W flaw ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH CO..WASHIN(1TDN c GEORGE X. HICKERSON' AND GEORGE 0 H EIVIENWAY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS TO HAMPIDEN MANUFACTURING QOMEANY, INC., A CORPORATION YORK.

SUSPENDING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1915.

Application filed January 16, 1914. Serial No. 812,389.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Gnoncn X. HICKER- SON and GEORGE C. HnMnNwAY, citizens of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suspending Devices; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the'art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention has reference, generally, to improvements in suspending devices for connection with picture-frames and similararticles; and the said invention relates, more particularly, to a novel construction of eye-member adapted to be secured to the back of a picture frame or similar article, and to which the suspending wire or cord may be attached.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide a simple, cheap and strong eye-member having anovel means of attachment to a picture-frameor the like, and provided with an eye-portion which may be po sitioned to project outwardly from the back of the picture-frame, or the like, when in use, but which may be moved or bent to lie in a plane parallel to the plane of the back of picture-frame when not in use. Owing to this movable or adjustable relation of said eye-portion with the picture frame, or the like, it is possible toequip the latter with the eye-members so that a quantity of the same may be laid .flatlyon top of each other, for packing, carrying and shipping the same, without danger of breaking the glass of the frames or injuring the pictures contained in the frames, which danger is so liable to be incurred where the old fashion outwardly projecting rigid screweyes are used, and, consequentlystock picture frames may be equipped :with our novel eye-members and shipped and sold inquantities so equipped. 1

Other objects of the present invention, not at this time more particularly mentioned, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the said invention.

The present invention consists, primarily,

in the novel suspending device or eye-member hereinafter more fully set forth; and, furthermore, this invention consists in the various arrangements and combinations of the several parts, all of which will be more fully described in the following specification and then finally embodied in the claims which are appended to and which form an essential part of this specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a back view of a portion of a picture frame or similar article equipped with the novel construction of eye-members made according to and embodying the principles of the present invention, and illustrating, furthermore, the connection of the suspending wire or cord with said eye-members. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 22 in said Fig. .1, said view being drawn on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the novel eye-member detached fromthe picture frame. Fig. 4: is a view similar to said Fig. 2, but illustrating a slightly modified construction of eye-member made according to the present invention and shown connected with the picture frame; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of said modified construction of eye-member. Fig. 6 is also a view similar to said Fig. 2, but illustrating still another modified construction of eye-member embodying the principles of the present invention; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of said eye-member shown connected with the picture frame in Fig. 6. I

Similar characters of reference are employed in allof the hereinabove described views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the said drawings, the reference-character 1 indicates a picture frame, or other similar article, the same containing the glass 2, picture 3, and backboard 4.

The reference character -5 indicates the complete novel eye-member made according to and embodying the principles of the present invention, the same comprising a main body 6 provided'with one or more perforations 7, said main body being bent at its inner end to form a loop or tubular portion 8 tangent to the outer surface of said main body, which provides a bearing in which is journaled or pivotally connected an eyeportion or ring 9. The extreme inner end having of said main body -6, after said loop or tubular portion 8 is formed, is turned down wardly to provide a downwardly or inwardly extending tongue or brace 10, the same extending, preferably, at right angles to said main body. In applying the eyemember thus formed to the picture frame, said main body is laid upon the rear surface of the vertical members of said picture frame, in such a manner that said tongue 'or brace 10 is registered against the inner side surface of said vertical members of said picture frame. As thus positioned the said main body presents its loop or tubular portion 8, which being tangent to the outer surface of said main body lies flush therewith, within the opening of the frame. A fastening nail, screw, or the like 11, is then driven into the frame through the perforation of said main body, thereby firmly securing the same to the frame, and so braced by said tongue or brace 10, as to be prevented from twisting, turning or oscillating upon said fastening nail, thus maintaining the same securely in connection with the frame and capable of supporting its weight without any distortion of the eye-member. When not in use the eye-portion or ring 9 may be turned downwardly, so as to lie flat or in a plane parallel to the plane of the back of the frame 1, as indicated by the dotted representation of the same shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, consequently a number of frames fully equippel with our novel eyemembers may be laid flatlyone upon another for packing, carrying, storing and similar purposes, without danger of scratching the frames, or injuring the glass or pictures contained therein. When it is desired to use said eye-members, the said eye-portions 9 are turned in their bearings, formed by the loop or tubular portion 8, so that the same project outwardly from the rear of the frame 1 as shown, primarily, in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and as thus presented said eye-portions 9 are conveniently positioned for the connection therewith of the ends of the suspending wire or cord 12, by meansof which the frame and picture is hung, all of which is illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawlngs.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 5 of the accompanying drawings, we have illustrated therein a slightly modified construction of our novel suspending device or eye-member. In this form we provide a main body 13, one or more perforations 14:- Tongues or braces 15 are cut from the side marginal edges of said main body and turned downwardly or inwardly so as to be presented substantially at right angles to said main-body. The free ends of said tongues or braces 15 are provided with outwardly turned sharpened spurs or piercing points 16. The extreme inner end of said main body is bent to form a loop or tubular por tion 17, arranged to lie tangent with the outer surface of said main body, and is adapted to provide a bearing in which is journaled or pivotally connected an eyeportion or ring 18. The manner of applying and using the said above described modified form of eye-memberis substantially the same as already described in connection with the first described construction, except that additional stability of attachment is provided by the said spurs or piercing points 16 of the tongues or braces 15, which are caused to penetrate or pierce the material of the frame 1, and thereby aid in rigidly securing or anchoring said main body to the said frame. Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7 of the said drawings, we have illustrated there in still another modified construction of our novel suspending device or eye-member, which embodies, however, the main principles of our invention. In this form we provide a main body 19, having one or more perforations 20. Struck out of the inner end of said body is a tongue or brace 21 which leaves an opening 22 in said inner end, and thereby forms said inner end into an eyeportion 28. The said tongue or brace 21 is bent downwardly or inwardly so as to be presented substantially at right angles to said main body. The free end of said tongue or brace 21 is provided with outwardly turned sharpened spurs or piercing points 24. When said main body is applied to said frame 1, and fastened thereto with the fastening nail 11, or the like, the said tongue or brace 21 lies against the inner side surface of the frame, with its spurs or piercing points penetrating the material of the frame. When it is desired to use the eye-portion 23 the same is bent outwardly, from the normal plane parallel to the back of the frame 1, so as to project outwardly from the frame and substantially at right angles to said main body .19, in themanner illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 ofthe drawings.

We are aware that some changes may be made in the arrangements and combinations of the parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, without departing from the scope of this invention. Hence we do not limit our invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the parts as described in the foregoing specification and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, nor do we confine ourselves to the exact details of the construction of the said parts, except aslimited by the scope of the appended claims.

1. In a device of the kind described a main body for attachment to a frame, a bracing tongue projecting at substantially right angles to said main body and adapted to lie against the inner side surface of said body of said frame, and an eye portion on said main body and movable into and out of 15? a plane parallel to the plane of said main body.

In testimony, that We claim the invention set forth above We have hereunto set our hands this 9th day of January 1914.

GEORGE X. HIOKERSON. GEORGE G. HEMENWAY.

Witnesses:

ADoLPH HANSEN, GEORGE D. RICHARDS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, I). G. 

